System and method for playing a cooperative game

ABSTRACT

A board game is provided comprising a game board and a plurality of game pieces positionable on the board. The game board includes a continuous game path comprising a series of spaces along which the game pieces may be moved. At various positions along the game path are provided one or more chambers within which the game pieces may be moved. The game pieces include at least one player game piece and at least one non-player token game piece positionable upon the game path, wherein the token game piece moves independently of the players and the player game pieces and may influence the position of the player game piece on the game board. A timing mechanism is included to provide a deadline within which the players must achieve a common goal, which timing mechanism may be integrated within a lockable safe mechanism that cannot be opened until a certain number of “keys” are inserted into slots provided within the mechanism thereby signaling the completion of the goal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a board game, and moreparticularly, to a board game for two or more players wherein theplayers are not competing against each other but instead must cooperateto complete a common goal within a given amount of time.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Board games, table top games and parlor games, are well known andhave been universally used for centuries, many of these games utilizingcommon elements, such as a standard game board, player markers, dice orother randomizing agents, timer mechanisms, cards, money and the like.What all of these games have in common is that each of the players,whether there be two or more, are competing against each other. In manyof these games, the players might be grouped into two or more teams, butin these instances, the teams themselves are competing against eachother.

[0005] While there are other cooperative games on the market, none ofthem provides the specific features of the cooperative game of thepresent invention. For example, in the game Cranium Hoopla all players(playing together as one team) attempt to successfully communicate atarget number of content pieces to one another using four differentclueing methods within a set period of time.

[0006] Another such games is Lord of the Rings, a cooperative gamepublished by Hasbro, Kosmos and Parker Brothers in 2000 where the objectis to destroy the Ring while surviving the corrupting influence ofSauron. Each player plays one of the Hobbits in the fellowship, each ofwhich has a unique power. The game is played on a number of boards: theMaster board indicates both the physical progress of the fellowshipacross Middle Earth and the corrupting influence of Sauron on thehobbits, and a number of scenario boards which detail the events andadventures of particular locations. Progression across the boards isdetermined by playing cards (many of which represent the characters anditems of Middle Earth), and the effects of corruption are represented bya special die. The game is lost if the ring-bearer is overcome bySauron, or won if the ring is destroyed by throwing it into the volcanicfires of Mount Doom.

[0007] Another example of a semi-cooperative game is a game published in1993 by Decipher, Inc. entitled Star Trek—The Next Generation: A KlingonChallenge. The game features some cooperative aspects (the extent ofthis is not known) and a game timer in the form of a constantly-runningVHS videotape that players start at the beginning of the game.

[0008] There exists a need for a class of board games in which playerscooperate in order to achieve a common goal, namely the opening of asafe allowing the players to simulate a heist while avoiding non-playertokens such as guards and dogs, within a predetermined amount of time.As shall be appreciated, the prior art fails to specifically addresseither the problem or the solution arrived upon by applicant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Against the foregoing background, it is a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a board game wherein two or more players orteams cooperate to achieve a common goal.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide such aboard game further including a timing mechanism for setting a deadlinewithin which the players must achieve the common goal.

[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide sucha board game that may be completed in a predetermined period of time.

[0012] It is still another object of the present invention to providesuch a board game that includes an element of randomness to the outcomeof the game.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide such aboard game including one or more elements that operate independently ofthe players, which elements may influence the player game pieces or theplayer's achievement of the common goal.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide sucha board game including at least one non-player game piece positionableon the game board and moving independently of the players' game pieces,wherein said non-player game piece may influence the position of theplayer game pieces on the game board, and the player game pieces mayinfluence the position of the non-player game piece on the board.

[0015] It is still another object of the present invention to providesuch a board game that includes a lockable safe mechanism that cannot beunlocked until all four keys are inserted, which keys are acquired byplayers by completing certain tasks.

[0016] It is but another object of the present invention to provide sucha board game that is playable by two or more players.

[0017] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide sucha board game that is appropriate for a broad range of age groups.

[0018] It is but another object of the present invention to provide sucha board game that allows players to simulate a heist.

[0019] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide sucha board game wherein players experience the thrill of competitionwithout an adversarial atmosphere.

[0020] To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and advantages,the present invention, in brief summary, comprises a board game having agame board and a plurality of game pieces positionable on the board. Thegame board includes a continuous game path along which the game piecesmay be moved, the game path being comprised of a series of spaces ortiles. At various positions along the game path are provided one or morechambers or rooms, within which the game pieces may be moved. The gamepieces include at least one player game piece positionable upon said thegame path and at least one non-player token game piece positionable uponthe game path, wherein the token game piece moves independently of theplayers and the player game pieces. The token game piece may influencethe position of the player game piece on the game board and conversely,the player game piece may influence the position of the token game pieceon the board. A timing mechanism is also provided for providing adeadline within which the players must achieve a common goal prior tothe expiration of time on said timing mechanism. The timing mechanismmay be integrated within a lockable safe mechanism which cannot beopened until a certain number of “keys” are inserted into slots providedwithin the mechanism. When the keys are all inserted, the safe mechanismmay be opened and the game is won if the players complete the task priorto time running out on the timing mechanism. In an alternativeembodiment, a single player may play an interactive game by using apuzzle book that includes puzzles that must be completed prior toopening a mission book having mission solutions relating to the puzzles,wherein the missions must be completed within a certain predeterminedperiod of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of thepresent invention will be more apparent from the detailed explanation ofthe preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the board game of thepresent invention, including the elements disclosed in the preferredembodiment; and

[0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the combination timingmechanism/locking safe mechanism of the board game of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof,the board game of the present invention is provided and is referred togenerally by reference numeral 10. The board game 10 comprises a gameboard 12 which, in the preferred embodiment, is substantially planar andis foldable so as to fit within a smaller area, such as a storage box.At least one surface of the game board 12 contains a playing surface 14upon which the game is played. The playing surface 14 includes acontinuous game path 16 comprising a plurality of connected spaces ortiles 18. At various positions along the game path 16 are providedchambers or rooms 20, said chambers 20 being connected to the tiles 18by a door marker 22. One of said chambers 20 serves as the start/finishroom 24 wherein play commences and ultimately terminates.

[0025] A timing mechanism 26 is utilized to provide a deadline withinwhich the players must achieve a common goal. The timing mechanism 26illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an electronic timer that counts down ina digital readout from 30 minutes to 0 upon the commencement of thegame. In the preferred embodiment, the common goal is the opening of alockable safe mechanism 28 which cannot be opened until a given numberof keys 30 are inserted into slots 32 in the safe mechanism. The keys 30may take on any variety of shapes or forms, such as a plastic skeletonkey or a key imprinted on a plastic tile. Until all the required keys 30are inserted within the slots 32 of the safe mechanism 28, however, thesafe mechanism 28 cannot be opened, and play must continue. It is onlyupon the successful acquisition of all the keys 30 and the unlocking ofthe safe mechanism 28 within the time frame provided by the timingmechanism 26 that the game is won by the players, not by competingagainst each other, but rather by cooperating towards a common goal.

[0026] Game pieces 34 are utilized to represent the players as well asnon-player characters and random events. The game pieces 34 include atleast one player game piece 36 positionable upon the game path 16, whichplayer game piece 36 is controlled by a player or players. In thepreferred embodiment, at least one non-player game piece 38 is alsoprovided, which piece 38 is also positionable on the game path 16 andmoves independently of the player game pieces 36. As will soon beappreciated, the non-player game piece 38 may influence the position ofthe player game piece 36 on the game board 12 and conversely, the playeror player game piece 36 may influence the position of the non-playergame piece 38 on the game board 12.

[0027] The player game pieces 36 and non-player game pieces 38 are movedalong the game path 16 a number of spaces 18 corresponding to theresults of a die or dice 40. In the preferred embodiment, the dice 40comprise a player movement die 42 and a non-player movement die 44. Inthis embodiment, the player movement die 42 is an eight-sided die withnumerical indicia 46 and graphical indicia 48 being provided on each ofthe faces. The numerical indicia 46 represents the number of spaces 18the player game piece 36 is to move, while the graphical indicia 48represents a certain action either the player game piece 36 ornon-player game piece 38 must take. Also in this embodiment, thenon-player movement die 44 is a six-sided die with numerical indicia 46provided on each of the faces. It should be appreciated that the dice 40are but one method of determining a random result, and any number ofalternative devices may be used, such as a spinner or electronic means.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the player game pieces 36 may bemoved in any direction, while the non-player game pieces 38 follow apredetermined path 50 along the game path 16, said path 50 beingestablished by a plurality of directional arrows 52. In the event thatthere is more than one non-player game piece 38, a different set ofmultiple directional arrows 52 may be used for each piece 38, each ofwhich set may establish a different predetermined path 50 for each gamepiece 38.

[0029] Additional game pieces 34 are also provided in the preferredembodiment, which game pieces 34 are designed to fit in with the schemeof the board game 10. For example, in the preferred embodiment, in theinitial setup of the game, the keys 30 are randomly imprinted on thebottom of top secret tiles 54, which tiles 54 are placed onpredetermined locations 56 in one or more of the chamber 20. The topsecret tiles 54 are adapted to receive booby trap tiles 58 which areplaced face down on the top secret tiles 54 so as to hide their identityfrom the players prior to being encountered. During gameplay, when aplayer game piece 36 enters a room in which a top secret tile 54 holds abooby trap tile 58, the booby trap tile 58 is revealed and the playermust “disarm” the booby trap revealed thereon. Once the booby trap hasbeen disarmed, the top secret tile 54 is flipped over, potentiallyrevealing one of the keys 30 required to open the safe mechanism 28. Thetop secret tile 54 may contain other indicia on the bottom thereof, suchas the key to a secret passage or the occurrence of an event, such asthe player being stunned.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment, tool cards 60 are provided to allowthe players to “disarm” the booby trap revealed on the booby trap tiles58. For example, if the booby trap tile 58 reveals a laser web, the toolcard 60 required to disarm it would feature a deflection mirror. Otherexamples of corresponding traps and disarming tools include heat sensorand ice suits, glass cages and ice cutters, and barbed wire and wirecutters. The tool cards 60 may also include other indicia prescribingactions required of the players, penalties or awards for the players,random occurrences and the like. For example, a lock pick tool card 60will release a player game piece 36 from jail, or a jet board tool card60 will allow a player game piece 36 to move double the die roll.

[0031] It should be noted that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, inwhich the game board 12 is configured in the design of a spy complexthat the players must sneak around in to recover the hidden keys 30 tounlock the safe mechanism 28, is but one representation of thefundamental concept of the board game 10 of the present invention. Thekeys 30 do not need to consist of actual representations of keys, nordoes the safe mechanism 28 have to appear as a safe, nor do thenon-player game pieces 38 have to be a guard and his dog, etc. Theconcept of the board game 10 is to require the players to cooperatetowards a common goal—the collection of one or more items using certaintools that may be transferred between players while avoiding non-playergame pieces 38 and overcoming obstacles, such as booby traps. Forexample, the player game pieces 36 may be made in the representation ofelves, and the safe mechanism 28 is designed to look like a magic cave,and the players must find four magic beans (the equivalent of keys 30)from within a cave complex to place within the magic cave before the sunsets.

[0032] Furthermore, while the timing mechanism 26 in the embodimentshown is an electronic timer, this is but one method for setting adeadline in the game. Various other electronic devices will work just aseffectively, as would a variety of mechanical or kinetic devices. Simpletools such as spring wound timers or hourglass devices are well known inthe game industry. Other timing devices more appropriate to the theme ofthe particular game are also envisioned, such as balls dropping downramps, cars moving around a track, water filling a bucket, etc. All thatis required is that the timing device is relatively consistent in thesetting of a deadline to complete the required task.

[0033] In actual gameplay, the game is set up by mixing up and randomlyplacing the eight top secret tiles 54 face-down onto the marked spots 56on the game board 12 10, and then by mixing up and randomly placing theeight booby trap tiles 58 face-down on top of the top secret tiles 54.Each player is then randomly dealt an equal number of tool cards 60. Alltwelve tool cards 60 are distributed (for four players, each get three,for three players, each get four, for two players, each get six). Onceall the game pieces 34 and cards 60 are in place, the game is begun bystarting the timer in the timing mechanism 26. This timer beginscounting down from 30 minutes, and does not stop until the game is over.

[0034] Each player controls one player game piece 36 token throughoutthe game players begin the game with all of their player game pieces 36in the start/finish room 24, or “Safe Chamber.” players take turns,beginning by rolling the dice 40 (on the first turn, the first playeronly rolls the player movement die 42.) The player movement die 42determines the number of spaces on the game board 12 the player gamepiece 36 may move.

[0035] The player game pieces 36 may enter chambers 20 indicated on thegame board 12. When a player game piece 36 is in a chamber 20 with aface-down booby trap tile 58, that player may turn over that tile toreveal its contents. The booby trap tile 58 must be removed before thetop secret tile 54 underneath it can be revealed. In order to remove thebooby trap tile 58, players must meet the conditions required by thespecific booby trap. In the preferred embodiment, these conditionsinclude:

[0036] 1. Playing the following tool cards 60 for the correspondingbooby traps:

[0037] a. Gas Mask for the Poison Gas

[0038] b. Bug Spray for the Killer Bees

[0039] c. Ice Suit for the Heat Sensor

[0040] d. Deflection Mirror for the Laser Web

[0041] e. Wire Cutters for the Barbed Wire

[0042] f. Glass Cutters for the Glass Case

[0043] 2. Using the robot car 62 (not a tool card) for the Ring of Firebooby trap

[0044] 3. Having at least two player game pieces 36 in the same chamber20 for the 500 Pounds booby trap

[0045] Top secret tiles 54 that are marked key 30 are removed from thegame board 12 and kept by the player until the end of the game. Othertop secret tiles 54 are left in place on the game board 12 when they areturned over. In the preferred embodiment, the top secret tiles 54 are asfollows:

[0046] 1. Four Keys (these are kept by the players as they arediscovered)

[0047] 2. Two Secret Passages (these remain on the game board 12)

[0048] 3. One Empty (this causes no action)

[0049] 4. One Stunned (this causes the player who revealed it to loseone turn)

[0050] One player begins the game with the robot car 62. This can beused on the payer's turn to legally pass ONE tool card 60 to any otherplayer. The robot car 62 can also be passed to another player without atool card 60. This is a key element to the cooperative nature of thegame: players use the robot car card 62 to move resources to the playerwho can use them.

[0051] If a player rolls a graphical image 48 of a guard or dog on theplayer die, that player may not move his player game piece 36, butinstead must place the guard token 64 or dog token 66 on the appropriatespace indicating they are now in play. (If the guard 64 is already inplay when a player rolls guard, the guard 64 is taken out of play. Ifthe dog 66 is already in play when a player rolls dog 66, the dog 66 istaken out of play.) Until these tokens are taken out of play, eachplayer on his turn must roll the non-player movement die 42 in additionto the player movement die 42. This determines the number of spaces theguard 64 and/or dog 66 are moved. These tokens always move along thesame path, and always in the same direction (unless acted upon by aplayer using an appropriate tool card 60. The guard 64 and dog 66 sendplayer game pieces 36 to Jail by being in the same corridor, or by beingwithin six spaces 18 of a player game piece 36, respectively. Inaddition to the die roll, the guard 64 and dog 66 can be taken out ofplay by legal use of the appropriate tool card 60 (Telephone and Bone,respectively).

[0052] Players may escape from Jail by using the appropriate tool card60 (the Lock Pick), or by rolling an open lock on the player die ontheir turn, or by another player moving his player game piece 36 intoone of the chambers 20 on the game board 12 marked Jail Release. Playersmay not send or receive the robot car 62 while in Jail.

[0053] If the players obtain all four keys 30 and move their player gamepieces 36 successfully back to the start/finish room 24 before thetiming mechanism 26 reaches zero, they may insert the keys 30 into thelockable safe mechanism 28 and stop the timing mechanism 26 (as shown inFIG. 2). They have won the game. If the timing mechanism 26 reaches zeroprior to the players completing their task, the game is over and theplayers have lost.

[0054] Having thus described the invention with particular reference tothe preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Forexample, a solo play game is envisioned whereby players must firstcomplete puzzles contained in a puzzle book before opening a missionbook containing various missions relating to the puzzles solved in thepuzzle book. A timing mechanism 20 is utilized to provide a deadlinewithin which the missions must be completed.

Wherefore, we claim:
 1. A board game wherein two or more playerscooperate to achieve a common goal within a predetermined time frame,said board game comprising: a game board; at least two player gamepieces positionable upon said game board; and a timing mechanism forcounting down the time in said predetermined time frame, wherein saidplayers must achieve said common goal prior to the expiration of time onsaid timing mechanism.
 2. The board game of claim 1, further includingat least one non-player game piece positionable upon said game board,said non-player game piece moving independently of said player gamepieces, wherein said non-player game piece may influence the position ofsaid player game piece on said game board and said player game piece mayinfluence the position of said non-player game piece on said game board.3. The board game of claim 2, wherein the movement of said player andnon-player game pieces are dictated by the rolling of a pair of dice byeach player.
 4. The board game of claim 2, wherein said non-player gamepieces comprise the figure of a guard and a dog.
 5. The board game ofclaim 4, further including a continuous game path comprising a pluralityof discrete spaces provided on said game board, wherein said player gamepieces and said non-player game pieces are positionable and movablealong said game path.
 6. The board game of claim 5, further including atleast one chamber provided on said game board, wherein said chamber isconnected to said continuous path and may be entered by said player gamepieces.
 7. The board game of claim 1, further including a lockable safemechanism that can only be unlocked by inserting at least one keytherein, wherein said common goal comprises the recovery of said atleast one key and the opening of said safe mechanism.
 8. The board gameof claim 7, wherein said timing mechanism and said safe mechanism areincorporated within a single unit.
 9. The board game of claim 8, furtherincluding at least one top secret tile, which tiles are placed atpredetermined locations on said game board, wherein said keys areimprinted on one surface of said top secret tiles.
 10. The board game ofclaim 9, further including at least one booby trap tile, which boobytrap tile is placed above said top secret tile thereby preventing accessto said top secret tile until said booby trap has been disarmed.
 11. Theboard game of claim 10, further including at least one tool card,wherein each of said tool cards corresponds to one of said booby traptiles, and said tool card is required to disarm said booby trap.
 12. Theboard game of claim 11, further including at least one robot car,wherein said robot car may be utilized to transport said tool cardsbetween players.
 13. A board game wherein two or more players cooperateto recover two or more keys and use said keys to open a lockable safemechanism within a predetermined time frame, said board game comprising:a game board; at least one player game piece positionable upon said gameboard; a timing mechanism for counting down the time in saidpredetermined time frame, wherein said players must collect said keyelements prior to the expiration of time on said timing mechanism; andat least one non-player token game piece positionable upon said gameboard, said non-player game piece moving independently of said playergame pieces, wherein said non-player game piece may influence theposition of said player game piece on said game board and said playergame piece may influence the position of said non-player game piece onsaid game board.
 14. An interactive game for a single player, said gamecomprising: a puzzle book including puzzles to be completed by saidplayer; a mission book including missions having solutions relating tosaid puzzles, wherein said puzzles must be completed prior to saidmission book being opened; and a timing mechanism, wherein said timingmechanism is activated upon the opening of said mission book to therebycount down the time in which said player has to complete said missions.15. A method for two or more players to play a cooperative board gamewithin a predetermined period of time, said method comprising the stepsof: providing a game board having a continuous game path included on thesurface thereof and at least one chamber accessible from said continuousgame path; providing a timing mechanism for counting down the time insaid predetermined time frame, wherein said players must achieve saidcommon goal prior to the expiration of time on said timing mechanism;providing a lockable safe mechanism, said safe mechanism being opened bythe insertion of at least one key therein; providing at least one topsecret tile in said at least one chamber, wherein said at least one keyis randomly hidden under one or more of said top secret tiles; providingat least one booby trap tiles upon said top secret tiles such that saidtop secret tile cannot be uncovered until said booby trap tile has beendisarmed; providing at least one tool card for disarming said boobytraps; providing at least one robot card for exchanging said tool cardsbetween said players; providing at least two player game piecespositionable on and movable along said continuous game path at astarting location; providing at least one non-player game piecepositionable on and movable along said continuous game path at aseparate starting location; providing at least two dice having numericaland graphical indicia thereon, said indicia determining the movement ofsaid player and non-player game pieces; rolling said dice; moving saidplayer and non-player game pieces as indicated by said indicia; uponentering said chamber, uncovering and disarming said booby trap tile;recovering said at least one key; and unlocking said lockable safemechanism using said at least one key.